Byron Buxton is thrilled as the Twins end the Seattle series

Sometimes it’s worth simplifying.

That and, of course, coffee.

Since adopting the philosophy he calls “see ball, hit ball” earlier this month, Minnesota’s Byron Buxton has been in top form.

Buxton had a double, a home run and four RBIs as the Twins won 5-1 in Seattle on Saturday night. The deciding game of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Since June 7, Buxton has a batting average of .364 with five home runs and 18 RBIs, improving his season average from .221 to .265.

“Once you figure out what you don’t have to look for all the time when you go into the (batting) cage and you don’t spend 40 minutes on that one little part that you’re trying to figure out, it simplifies the game a little bit,” said Buxton, who joked that he has spent his newfound free time before games relaxing with a cup of coffee. “When I say, ‘see ball, hit ball,’ it’s more about simplifying it, just going out there and hitting a good swing.”

Buxton’s three-run hit in the sixth inning on Saturday gave the Twins 18 consecutive home runs, setting a franchise record. It was his eighth of the season and fourth in the last five games.

“He finds ways to just have good at-bats and get himself into good counts,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “But the swing, I’ve said this a few times, looks very synchronized. It looks very tight and it’s very effective. He finds the run and the ball just really takes off when he makes good swings at the ball.”

Despite missing 14 games in May due to inflammation in his right knee, the oft-injured Buxton, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 MLB draft, is on pace to play more than 100 games for only the second time in his 10 major league seasons.

“It definitely feels good to be in a good position, to feel that confidence and to be the person you are meant to be,” Buxton said.

Mitch Haniger hit a home run for the Mariners, who lost only their second of 11 home games this month.

The Mariners managed just six hits and struck out 15 times. Although Seattle earned a narrow 3-2 victory in 10 innings in the series opener on Friday, it has put 0 of 16 runners in scoring position in the last two games.

“Obviously, that wasn’t our best night at bat,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “We’re still struggling there. But we have a chance to win the series (on Sunday).”

The Mariners have won nine consecutive series at home, just two behind the franchise record set in the 2001-02 season.

The Twins are expected to send Joe Ryan (5-5, 3.31 ERA) to the mound on Sunday against Seattle right-hander Luis Castillo (6-9, 3.79).

Ryan is 0-3 with a 7.30 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners. Castillo is 1-2 with a 4.99 ERA in six previous appearances against the Twins, including a 3-1 loss on May 6 in Minneapolis, despite allowing just two earned runs on two hits in six innings.

–Field level media